Mimi Marchand was sentenced to an 18 -month suspended sentence in the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday. The Popess of the People press was suspected of having made the host Karine Le Marchand sing with stolen photos of her minor daughter out of police custody for cannabis acquisition.
Michèle called “Mimi” merchant, present to listen to the decision, was also sentenced to a fine of 25,000 euros. The offenses were allowed thanks to the “network” of the powerful owner of the Bestimage agency, which “played” from its address book to “attract favors by all means”, to “get rich”, “in defiance of the victims” and “with a certain meanness,” the president told her.
Towards an appeal of judgment
“Mimi Marchand was convicted of an offense of extortion which is not characterized neither legally nor materially, especially since the court recognized that she had in no way asked for money, we will therefore immediately appeal,” said her lawyer Caroline Toby to the press leaving the hearing room.
Karine Le Marchand was not present for the decision but his lawyer Jean Ennoi judged that she was “satisfactory”.
A heavier penalty than that claimed by the prosecution
The penalty is heavier than that claimed at the end of the trial last month by the prosecution, which had requested a year in prison suspended and 20,000 euros fine against Mimi Marchand.
In February 2020, Mimi Marchand had alerted the host of “Love is in the meadow” that a “young” unknown photographer had tried to sell these photos to him. She had reassured her, saying that she “blocked” them by giving 3,000 euros to the photographer.
During his trial, Mimi Marchand admitted having “lied” – the images had been made by one of his usual paparazzi, Sébastien Valiela. “Thank you Mimi,” replied Karine Le Marchand, before “repaying” a first part of the advanced money, 1,600 euros.
“Pressure” on the TV host
The court sentenced Mimi Marchand to pay these 1,600 euros to Karine the Marchand because “it does not matter that a refund was not explicitly asked” from the moment Mimi Marchand accepted the money, said the court. She will also have to pay 1,500 euros to the host in compensation for the “moral damage made up of fear and stress experienced for six months”.
Before the court, Mimi Marchand, “treated with idiot and steep” but did not give more explanations. There was no “questioning”, insisted during her requisitions the procure, evoking a feeling of “omnipotence”. She recalled that Mimi Marchand had, after this “service”, multiplied the requests to the animator, now a “pressure”.
Papese of the People press
For a long time, Michèle Marchand, says Mimi, has made the rain and the good weather in the celebrity press. With an impressive address book, the Queen of Paparazzi provided scoops and photos of more or less stolen political stars and photos. Ségolène Royal in a swimsuit in 2006 during the presidential campaign? She is her. The front page of the magazine Closer revealing the “surprising love story” between Rachida Dati and actor Vincent Lindon, in 2012? It is too.
Our blackmail file
The controversial interview granted to Paris Match by Ziad Takieddine? She is still her. An arranged interview which earned him to be indicted in 2021 for witness subordination. Several times incarcerated for financial crimes, this close to the Macron couple, this Tuesday, has a new conviction to their credit.
